On Wednesday, Indian-administered Kashmir will hold its first local elections since the Indian government’s controversial decision in 2019 to strip the region of its special semi-autonomous status. This move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist administration triggered widespread outrage in the region, which has long been a flashpoint of tension between India and Pakistan.
With a population of around 8.7 million registered voters, the atmosphere in Kashmir is charged with a mix of skepticism and hope. Many residents are still reeling from the upheaval caused by the Indian government’s 2019 decree, which effectively tightened control from New Delhi. Since that pivotal moment, a federally appointed governor has overseen the territory, and this first regional assembly election in a decade is being seen as a crucial test of democratic engagement rather than a chance to shape immediate policies.
Mukhtar Ahmad Tantray, a 65-year-old retired government officer from Srinagar, reflects the sentiment of many in the region. "Our problems have piled up," he says, pointing out that real power has been shifted to the bureaucracy. The region is heavily militarized, with about 500,000 Indian troops stationed there, grappling with a 35-year insurgency that has claimed countless lives, including many this year alone.
Despite the turmoil, voter turnout is anticipated to be high. This is a significant shift from previous elections when separatist groups, opposed to Indian rule, would boycott the polls in their demand for either independence or integration with Pakistan. "All the politics revolves around the dispute," says Navin Kotwal, a 73-year-old trader from Doda in the Jammu district. "All I care about is that we want to be governed by educated representatives who can solve our problems."
The current elections are marked by unusually vigorous campaigns and open debates, but the practical power of the new local assembly will be limited. Key decisions, including those related to security and the appointment of Kashmir’s governor, will remain firmly in New Delhi's hands. Additionally, Delhi retains the authority to override any legislation passed by the new 90-seat assembly. "People can go and plead with their local representative," Tantray notes. "Even if they cannot do anything, they can at least raise the issues."
The election process will unfold in three phases, with polling stations opening at 7:00 am local time (0130 GMT). Voting is staggered due to the region’s challenging terrain and security concerns. The final phase is scheduled for October 2, with results expected to be announced six days later.
The territory of Jammu and Kashmir is politically and geographically split. The Kashmir Valley, predominantly Muslim, contrasts sharply with the Hindu-majority Jammu district, separated by rugged mountains to the south. A third area, the high-altitude Ladakh region, was designated as a separate federal territory in 2019.
This year has seen significant violence in Jammu, prompting Modi to campaign vigorously in the region. He claimed that "terrorism is on its last legs," referring to the ongoing insurgency against Indian rule. Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) argue that their changes have ushered in a new era of peace and economic growth for Kashmir. However, these claims are contentious, as the 2019 changes were followed by a harsh clampdown, including mass arrests and a months-long communications blackout.
While this election is the first for the local assembly since 2014, residents had the opportunity to vote in national elections this past June, where Modi secured a third term as Prime Minister. Syed Ali Choudhary, a 38-year-old farmer from Jammu, expressed cautious optimism about the local assembly. He believes it will be a "big relief" after years of frustration, although he acknowledges that the assembly’s powers will be more limited compared to the past. "Something is better than nothing," he says.
Many Kashmiris are still grappling with the fallout from the restrictions imposed since 2019, and there is criticism that the BJP is strategically placing candidates to disrupt the vote in Muslim-majority areas. Concerns about unemployment are also prevalent. The region’s unemployment rate stands at 18.3 percent, more than double the national average, as reported by government figures in July. Small-scale manufacturing has suffered due to the end of certain tax exemptions, and there is frustration that major contracts, such as those for construction and mineral extraction, are being awarded to firms outside the territory.
Madiha, a 27-year-old jobless graduate who preferred not to give her last name, voices the prevalent concern: "My biggest worry is unemployment. The cost of living has reached the sky." As the elections approach, the people of Kashmir are left to navigate a complex and uncertain political landscape, seeking to make their voices heard amidst the backdrop of ongoing regional strife.
Login